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Original poster

To ask for help for poor SIL and her baby with Eczema? Desperate SIL...

70 replies

MrsWinnibago · 19/08/2014 21:33

I know it's not done to post here just because it's busy but poor sil and her 6 month old. He's got really bad eczema and she's so miserable :(

He won't stop crying generally unless he's on her she says....so all day long and all night (she is single) he is on her. He's breastfed and eats little tiny meals lately too.

She's seen specialists (the're in Oz) and been told he's allergic to Salicylates which apparently appear in most fruits and veg!

His little face is all red on one side and sore and itchy and though it;s got a bit better lately with some cream, she says it's now spread all over his body.

What if anything can she do? I can't offer to help as she's on the other side of the world!

OP posts:
Iseechickens · 19/08/2014 21:36

Wash all his clothes in Indian soap nuts,
Organic aloe Vera lotion on his skin,
If they can afford it get private allergy testing.

We did all the above with DD as a baby and she was a different child within days.

Littlef00t · 19/08/2014 21:39

I've heard dermasilk clothes are good but no personal experience.

Original poster
MrsWinnibago · 19/08/2014 21:41

Ok...got that...Indian Soap Nuts and organic aloe vera...thank you! Dermasilk....will look them up thank you!

OP posts:
Rockinghorse123 · 19/08/2014 21:41

Put porridge oats I a clean stocking run bath water through. Will take the burning redness out of it and soothe itching. Poor little thing it's awful.
Also agree with poster who said allergy testing when my eczema is really bad I cut out diary, makes a huge difference

StarSwirl92 · 19/08/2014 21:42

Perhaps a change in her diet too, breastmilk contains things from her diet.

PickleSarnie · 19/08/2014 21:43

This won't help with the ezcema but will definitely help with the scratching www.scratchsleeves.co.uk/

the silky bits on the hands do disintegrate after lots and lots of washes but I'd still definitely recommend them. My youngest was constantly covered in horrible scratches until I got them for him.

Theyaremysunshine · 19/08/2014 21:44

There's been a Recent thread about baby eczema in parenting where you may find some tips.

Aveeno for us was a little miracle, but miracle products vary from child to child. Petroleum based products are disastrous for us but they are the basis of most eczema treatments which work well for others. It's trial and error and unbelievably hard.

HolgerDanske · 19/08/2014 21:44

Don't bathe too much, it can make it worse.

bf1000 · 19/08/2014 21:49

Breastmilk put on skin is meant to be great on skin with ezcema

Original poster
MrsWinnibago · 19/08/2014 21:53

Thanks you all. I will pass all this on. Flowers

OP posts:
SquinkiesRule · 19/08/2014 21:54

My Ds started with eczema at 3 months, I tried eliminating dairy from my diet for a while, I also delayed his solid foods till about 7 months, then it was single foods only at least a week apart, so one week he tried peas then the next week we added carrots, each week another food.
Doctor gave him some cortisone for when it was really bad I hardly used it.
Plain water baths, only when necessary, so maybe twice a week. I just washed off the dirty bits each day. No soap at all if I could help it. His calmed down for a few years, occasional itchy insides of the elbows seems to be all he was left with till now (he's a grown up) He's worse than ever now.
Aloe is great. I also tried some aqua something cream that was good for was while. For us Vaseline seemed to give a lot of relief overnight.

loismustdieatyahoodotcom · 19/08/2014 21:55

I'm not sure if Lush is in aus, but they used to sell a cream called dream cream a bit pricy but a tub lasts for ages. It can also be used as a barrier cream for irritants.

Windmillsinthesand · 19/08/2014 21:55

Camomile tea (a strong infusion) added to the bath water,works with ds 2 but he is 7.

WaltJesseMikeGus · 19/08/2014 21:56

I always hear great reviews about Aveeno and they actually have a cream especially for babies. It's pretty cheap too so maybe worth a try?

SilentBob · 19/08/2014 21:56

If the eczema is salicylic then SIL will need to watch her vegetable and fruit intake while breast feeding. IME, peas and green beans are the "safest" vegetables and bananas and peeled pears the "safest" fruits. I would maybe suggest trying them individually though, as even the "safest" foods aren't guaranteed. (Could I use more ""?? Grin)

My daughter has scalp eczema and getting that to a manageable state has been a long and painful slog (she is now 16.) My partner also suffers, although from a different strain, and I have seen how frustrated and pained they have both been with the condition and they are both adult enough to vocalise how they are feeling- I cannot begin to imagine how hard it must be for your SIL.

Ps porridge oats in the bath were ace for my daughter but they do contain salicylic acid so I would maybe check before using them on the baby.

Fluffyears · 19/08/2014 21:59

Second the porridge oats suggestion. I have bad eczema on my legs and during flare up I'll run a bath and run the water through a clean stocking filled with oats. It makes water milky and I use the oat filled stocking as a cloth to wash the affected areas. Poor mite it's a horrible affliction and I'm an adult.

Smartiepants79 · 19/08/2014 22:01

Two friends babies with bad excema highly recommended Aveeno cream.
Not sure if you can get it in Oz but it was the best they found.

wheresthelight · 19/08/2014 22:01

my daughter's eczema is flared up by strawberries

I agree with the advice given - especially about SIL cutting it out of her diet as it is likely the allergens are passing through her milk.

Also look and see if she can get Epaderm Emollient from her doctor or chemist (amazon sell it so should be an over the counter one) - it looks like candle wax but it is the only thing that has cleared up dd's eczema. it acts as a barrier to stop moisture escaping the skin. Its a bit like grease and baby will be very slippery.

WaltJesseMikeGus · 19/08/2014 22:02

www.aveeno.com/category/our+products/baby-skin-care.do

DaniAlvez · 19/08/2014 22:03

I've recommended this so many times! It really worked for my son's eczema. And it's Australian so your SIL should be able to get it:

Hope's Relief

Original poster
MrsWinnibago · 19/08/2014 22:05

Thanks all for this valuable info. Bob I will tell her about green beans and peas, bananas and pears. Flowers

OP posts:
ShutTheFuckUpBarbara · 19/08/2014 22:09

I second aveeno.

Dermalex is great as an alternative to cortisone.

Surcare detergent and fabric conditioner.

Doingakatereddy · 19/08/2014 22:15

I'd agree with Epaderm, also Hydromol - both vasaline type emollients.

We were prescribed Dermol 500 after DS's exzema got infected.

No no fabric conditioner, ever. Super rinse clothes, towels and sheets.

CLEAN THE BATH AND RINSE. So many people forget about residue of bath products.

Do not use crap from Lush or any of the Forever bloody Living range.

Get a really good allergy specialist & follow their advice. To. The. Letter.

RinkyDinkyDoo · 19/08/2014 22:16

Have they got a dog? DS had really bad eczema, under the hospital,lots of creams etc. The dog died, skin cleared up and he was allergy tested at a later age, dog allergy. Beautiful skin since then.

Halfling · 19/08/2014 22:17

Oilatum bath, Aveeno baby cream, grapeseed oil